topic Re: What am i paying for? in What's On

Sky Sports F1 coverage in upcoming races

Murdo+q — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:40:02 GMT

Why has sky f1 moved their presenters to a studio in London?

I pay my subscription for trackside commentary, this is not value for money sky??

Moderator note: Amended title to better reflect query.

Re: What am i paying for?

SKY1992bf — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 15:39:58 GMT

@Murdo+q To cut down on costs

they are doing it for the three races furthest away from Europe (Australia, China and Japan (the next three races))

they still have an onsite presence with Martin Crofty Racheal and Ted out in Australia

SKY F1

Bigolbear — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 15:44:58 GMT

Watching the Australian F1 show and the AI studio it sucks Anthony on the sky board won't be interviewing the drivers about there lap. Why different presenting every race. It's become sterile. And very disjointed.

Re: SKY F1

MarkGoldsmith — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 15:56:26 GMT

@Bigolbear wrote:
Watching the Australian F1 show and the AI studio it sucks Anthony on the sky board won't be interviewing the drivers about there lap. Why different presenting every race. It's become sterile. And very disjointed.

So Sky will be presenting from the London studios for the next 3 fly away races. (Australia, Japan and China).

Sky aren't unique in doing this with Channel 4 also taking the same approach and presenting from the UK, with only a reduce presence at the circuits.

The reasons for this is to reduce the carbon footprint of the broadcasters and help the broadcasters and F1 meet their net zero targets.

Dare I say they probably enjoy the additional cost savings it makes and I'm sure the presenting teams prefer being able to spend more time at home that have to fly out for these long distances races.

It wouldn't surprise me if over time we see more of this and it isn't just for the long flyaway races.

Re: What am i paying for?

Fro9 — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 05:29:37 GMT

How to ruin f1! We paid to watch live TV, not from a studio! What are the women wearing? It's not a nightclub. It's okay. I suppose it's okay. They don't want fans anymore. Such a shame it was much better with presenters at the track! Shame they won't listen to the fans

Re: What am i paying for?

jgwilliams — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 05:56:04 GMT

I am cancelling my subscription. Sky sports is seen as the 'premier' sports platform and we also pay a premium price for that. I appreciate the carbon neutral approach and also new technologies meaning people don't need to be there. But this weekends coverage now feels just the same as channel 4 and other less comprehensive providers.

remember sky sports F1 is a brand in its own. It has the rights to F1 because of its 'extras' I can see F1 actually looking for a new broadcast partner as the whole experience is not very good this weekend and I will be switching off for Japan and China also now.

please reconsider this, you have the best presenters and have lead the way previously

Re: What am i paying for?

Daniel0210 — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 07:26:39 GMT

@jgwilliams wrote:

please reconsider this, you have the best presenters and have lead the way previously

@jgwilliams

Sky won't respond to your post on here. It may be better to email the Viewer Relations Team at viewerR@sky.uk

Re: What am i paying for?

TimmyBGood — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 08:37:03 GMT

@jgwilliams wrote:

I can see F1 actually looking for a new broadcast partner

Given Sky has a contract up to 2029, that seems unlikely. Past that point it's quite possible that Liberty Media won't be looking for television partners at all and use their own streaming platform instead.

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/12692873/sky-sports-to-remain-home-of-formula-1-until-2029-after-deal-extended-in-all-sky-markets

Re: What am i paying for?

MarkGoldsmith — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 09:19:21 GMT

@jgwilliams wrote:
I am cancelling my subscription. Sky sports is seen as the 'premier' sports platform and we also pay a premium price for that. I appreciate the carbon neutral approach and also new technologies meaning people don't need to be there. But this weekends coverage now feels just the same as channel 4 and other less comprehensive providers.

remember sky sports F1 is a brand in its own. It has the rights to F1 because of its 'extras' I can see F1 actually looking for a new broadcast partner as the whole experience is not very good this weekend and I will be switching off for Japan and China also now.

please reconsider this, you have the best presenters and have lead the way previously

You do realise that F1 are actively encouraging their broadcast partners to become carbon neutral.

At some races the broadcast team of F1 TV has previously been stripped back with production and commentary coming directly from the UK with only 3 or 4 presenters/reporters being on-site.

Personally I don't see the need for an entire presenting line up of analysts, reporters, commentators and presenters all being at the track, there is little value to it. You only need 2 or 3 to be able to get interviews and do the in-depth reporting of paddock stories.

Re: What am i paying for?

jgwilliams — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 09:50:16 GMT

And this is why I rarely post....

As I said I appreciate the carbon neutrality but progression isn't going backward. F1 is like a World Cup every other weekend. Its the spectical, studio coverage isn't same. Its a festival event and its also a multicultural festival. The coverage in the studio isn't the same and myself personally are cancelling as I might as well watch highlights on channel 4 as it's not as emersive / entertaining and what I paid for and I'm sure F1 owners will consider that in the contracts next time as someone else will step up.

The CO2 Impact of a couple of people isn't on the radar of even the smallest nations. It isn't even a paperclip counting exercise. CO2 can only be fixed by industry / technology at the mass scale in the grand scheme. I won't be thinking I watch sky because of the green logo. I will be watching the best coverage and this weekend seeing the best presenters in a studio isn't as good.

The future isn't about trying to dodge environmental issue by people not getting on a plane and associated CO2 for a couple more years to delay the same climatic change conclusion. It's simply finding solutions to eliminate or capture it. The media / entainment should entertain and although they have a role to promote such important causes, they should do it through entainment and it isn't as good in my opinion.

Having worked in F1 myself, I can tell you the family feeling within the pit is only picked up by being there. I can say especially in Australia, Japan and the 1st time back in China for a long time it is really important to be there for those culture's. If I wanted basic coverage I wouldnt pay for subscription TV.

F1 already through its industry / technology does more for the environment than anyone really knows that's being progressed into road cars. It needs to continue to grow and that's a package of things including emersive coverage to promote it which this weekends coverage doesn't sadly although it's a good attempt due only to the quality of the presenters.

that is my opinion

Re: What am i paying for?

Fletch_al — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 10:38:17 GMT

I agree. You miss the buzz of the paddock. If I wanted channel 4 style I would watch channel 4. I pay for sky (a cost which has gone up).

If its a case of reducing the carbon footprint then reduce the number of presenters on a race weekend. Do we really need 8 at every race? They can still present trackside with fewer presenters.

Re: What am i paying for?

Annie+UK — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 10:52:07 GMT

How to make a complaint to sky: Sky Customer Complaints Code of Practice

Sky Customer Complaints Form

Re: What am i paying for?

tarbat — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 11:12:09 GMT

If this switch to a studio based presentation team is driven by carbon footprint, it's odd that the F1 TV PRO presentation team are all (except Sam Collins as usual) at the track. Laura, Lawrence, etc, as well as Alex Brundle trackside are all at the circuit. I do prefer the atmosphere that comes across from a presentation team at the track. The bit when Fred Vasseur and Ariana Bravo got attacked by a bird was classic!

Re: What am i paying for?

MarkGoldsmith — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 11:24:04 GMT

@tarbat wrote:
If this switch to a studio based presentation team is driven by carbon footprint, it's odd that the F1 TV PRO presentation team are all (except Sam Collins as usual) at the track. Laura, Lawrence, etc, as well as Alex Brundle are all at the circuit. I do prefer the atmosphere that comes across from a presentation team at the track. The bit when Fred Vasseur and Ariana Bravo got attacked by a bird was classic!

I wonder if they just do the cutbacks on different races.

i know in previously seasons there have been some races where the world commentary feed done by F1TV has had one if not both the commentators based in the UK rather than at the track.

To be honest I think it makes sense doing it but perhaps they shouldn't just chose the races by their distance from Europe. Personally I think a lot of tracks have quite a soulless feel/atmosphere in particular the Middle East based races but Australia really does always have a buzz similar to silverstone, monza etc.

Perhaps in future seasons they will review which races they do the studio based approach for, just to ensure that the ones that do actually have a good atmosphere is presented from trackside.

Personally I don't mind them doing this for Japan or China as I doubt they would have the same level of atmosphere.

also whilst im sure the eco reasons are the primary factor I'm sure they are quite happy with the cost savings it must bring as well.

Trying something difference for a few races a seasons to me if a good thing. The F1 coverage has got rather stale and barely changed in any significant way over the past several years so at least it gives it a different feel and does allow them to experiment with different graphics and augmented reality stuff.

Studio presenting seems to be becoming more the norm for sports as opposed to being pitch/track side. A lot more football coverage comes from studios rather than pitch side presenting now, and we have even seen with things like the olympics of coverage predominantly coming from the UK. I would expect this to be different for Paris just due to its location but certainly for more non-European based bigger sporting events the switch has happened.

Re: What am i paying for?

nigea99 — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 12:12:55 GMT

@MarkGoldsmith wrote:

Studio presenting seems to be becoming more the norm for sports as opposed to being pitch/track side. A lot more football coverage comes from studios rather than pitch side presenting now, and we have even seen with things like the olympics of coverage predominantly coming from the UK. I would expect this to be different for Paris just due to its location but certainly for more non-European based bigger sporting events the switch has happened.

The new Studio based coverage for F1 also prompted to remember some of the coverage of the last Summer & Winter Olympics on the BBC which, as you say, was linked from the UK - with some commentators also based in the UK.

By both the Studios & some commentators being based in Salford this allowed the commentators.to then provide analysis in person later (for example the commentor for the Skateboarding able to give more insight to the way this sport has taken off -similar regarding some of the Snowboarding)

One problem I notice with Studio based Sports coverage is that I find is that sometimes the directors (or others) try to be too creative.

Back to the Olympics coverage I remember some highlights programmes (or maybe just the link programmes) where the director (or someone) just could not leave the 'wide shot' alone and had the (obvioulsy remote controlled) high up camera continually movng left & then back right (albeit reasonably slowly) almost making viewers dizzy when a still wide shot (or just occasional movement) would have sufficed.

I think the new F1 studio based coverage could fall into similar traps of trying to be too creative, if they are not too careful but it may just take time to establish what works for both the preenters and viewers

Re: What am i paying for?

ChrisV69 — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 19:38:02 GMT

I think SKY needs to reconsider it's fan base and perhaps approach us for our opinions? I wanted to see the feedback on-line considering how I felt during the Qually session and what I could watch for practice sessions. I personally don't care about SKY's Net Zero commitment or as referred to above, it's paperclip necessity to conform, but I do care about where what little money I have is going. For sure, the F1 juggernaut has to address climate issues and it's impact but I agree shipping presenters has the same footprint as fair trade grapes entering the UK from the EU. This is not just F1, I'm seeing it in other SKY sports coverage. The whole point of delivering premium sports events surely is bringing us less fortunate people the theatre of the event? I'd love to be able financially to consider travel footprint and not budget every month around what is technically a luxury item (SKY sub) but in return, the broadcaster has to consider it's delivery.

Of course there's an impact to the Team due to the number of races, employ more then and send less to each race?? Some I'd happily like to see less anyway.

I'm sorry, SKY has produced an unpolished platform which utterly breaks any atmosphere from the race venue (again not the only sport). I agree with other comments about over engineering a studio presence, it may have improvements to follow but I don't see the need. The studio is huge (cost?), the presenters stand 20 feet apart and the camera frankly makes me sick as it floats around to capture all the content...from a distance. Thank God for record and fast forward. As I certainly could not do a better job, I try not be critical of presenters but dear oh dear, cutting from location action to a bland studio and mumbling presenters, telling us what the race enthusiasts have worked out for themselves 30 mins ago, over and over....bring some dynamics! I see it going only one way, studio, 3-4 race side presenters for 20 odd races and if that's the case, SKY seriously needs to think about content delivery. Or, actually giving a jobby's worth for who pays for all this.

I can get a better product and offers even with SKY channels for half the price, perhaps then it wont hurt so much. If it wasn't for 'certain' presenters, I'd have ditched it long ago.

Yep, time to reconsider the spend. I will be writing to SKY along with the disappointment ditching SKY+HD for SKYQ and losing half the functionality (easily added I'm sure). Should have taken EE's offering.

Keep safe all and hope things improve.

Re: What am i paying for?

Stametis — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 20:16:21 GMT

The run up to qualifying today was perhaps the worst most depressing F1 coverage I've ever tried to sit through, and we've seen some things over the years!

The main thing the presenters do it build up excitement before and around the track action, they do this by conveying the excitement they're feeling from the sounds, smells and crowd atmosphere which can't be broadcast through a TV.

At least Ted and Brundle were at the track but if F1 switches to this format more often I'll either just VPN another country's broadcast (which an increasing number of my friends are doing anyway) or just watch the highlights on 4. Today's nonsense certainly wasn't worth paying for.

Re: What am i paying for?

MarkGoldsmith — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 22:57:23 GMT

@ChrisV69 wrote:
I think SKY needs to reconsider it's fan base and perhaps approach us for our opinions? I wanted to see the feedback on-line considering how I felt during the Qually session and what I could watch for practice sessions. I personally don't care about SKY's Net Zero commitment or as referred to above, it's paperclip necessity to conform, but I do care about where what little money I have is going. For sure, the F1 juggernaut has to address climate issues and it's impact but I agree shipping presenters has the same footprint as fair trade grapes entering the UK from the EU. This is not just F1, I'm seeing it in other SKY sports coverage. The whole point of delivering premium sports events surely is bringing us less fortunate people the theatre of the event? I'd love to be able financially to consider travel footprint and not budget every month around what is technically a luxury item (SKY sub) but in return, the broadcaster has to consider it's delivery.

Of course there's an impact to the Team due to the number of races, employ more then and send less to each race?? Some I'd happily like to see less anyway.

I'm sorry, SKY has produced an unpolished platform which utterly breaks any atmosphere from the race venue (again not the only sport). I agree with other comments about over engineering a studio presence, it may have improvements to follow but I don't see the need. The studio is huge (cost?), the presenters stand 20 feet apart and the camera frankly makes me sick as it floats around to capture all the content...from a distance. Thank God for record and fast forward. As I certainly could not do a better job, I try not be critical of presenters but dear oh dear, cutting from location action to a bland studio and mumbling presenters, telling us what the race enthusiasts have worked out for themselves 30 mins ago, over and over....bring some dynamics! I see it going only one way, studio, 3-4 race side presenters for 20 odd races and if that's the case, SKY seriously needs to think about content delivery. Or, actually giving a jobby's worth for who pays for all this.

I can get a better product and offers even with SKY channels for half the price, perhaps then it wont hurt so much. If it wasn't for 'certain' presenters, I'd have ditched it long ago.

Yep, time to reconsider the spend. I will be writing to SKY along with the disappointment ditching SKY+HD for SKYQ and losing half the functionality (easily added I'm sure). Should have taken EE's offering.

Keep safe all and hope things improve.

You aren't actually paying Sky to watch a "premium" version with better coverage of F1 what you are paying for is the ability to watch all the sessions (excluding silverstone) live and in full as Sky is the only way to be that in the UK.

Fundamentally its the ability to watch a sporting event live that gets the various sports pay TV channels subscribers, as if you are a fan of that sport and you want to watch it live that is your only option. The wrap around coverage they provide for a sport ( and for a number of sports its quite limited ) is generally watched by far fewer viewers than those who watch the actually sporting event live.

I'm expecting the wrap-around sports coverage to actually decrease over the next several years as the "YouTube" generation of sports fans don't really sit through 60 or 90 minute pre/post event shows. They tend to want to consume the analytical/interview content in smaller/shorter vidoes on a site like YouTube where they can pick and choose exactly what they want to watch.

Re: What am i paying for?

ChrisV69 — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 00:23:11 GMT

The point being premium sporting event not the version, so you're saying the wrap around coverage i.e the theater isnt funded by subscribers? I think it is and, 'should' trends lead away from providing that, so be it. However, some actually enjoy the coverage, the build up and post analysis of the event which takes us back to the original point. If SKY want to switch things up as they are perfectly entitled to do for whatever reason they decide to front, should us subscribers have a negative opninion (which going by social media appears to be the case), we're paying the money and allowed to vent. I've been with SKY for 19 years and today was the worst coverage since they started live coverage...my opinion. I'm not privileged to go to these events and if SKY weren't interested in the wrap around they would just broadcast the event...live. Thus, we're discussing the coverage switch and what we're paying for. Switch to a studio if thats the requirement but please dont deliver us a half ar5ed attempt, this unfortunately is going to require presenting dynamics which we don't have. Thankfully we still have the Team at the races to fill the gaps. Lets see how things transpire but seems they've shelled on this platform.....virtual dance floor I believe it was called, brilliant.

Some want the coverage surrounding the event, some dont, each to their own.

A question then, why didn't SKY survey opinion on a coverage switch, they've had two races to announce it?

Re: What am i paying for?

tarbat — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 06:16:30 GMT

The point is, Sky are going more for an "entertainment" style with their presentation team. Watching here this weekend in Frösakull (Sweden) on F1 TV, the coverage is far more track-based and focused on the actual race-day. With Sky's studio based presentation, you lose so much of the trackside atmosphere.

Just one example from this morning on F1 TV, Laura and Alex Brundle presenting from the grid.

And Alex Brundle's Grid Walk was all about the cars and drivers, not the celebrities.